Advice on buying a Strat, sound, and possibly just nostalgia?

Hi all,

I'm getting back into the hobby after playing 2 - 3 hours daily from ages 15 - 30. Kids, adulthood, jobs derailed me for a while, except for brief forays with MIM Teles and Strats about six years ago (which I had to sell when the economy went south).

I'm looking now at going back to my original love -- a Strat-style guitar. When I was 15, I owned a cheapie model that I fell in love with -- an Electra Phoenix x140. It looked sorta like a Strat (links below), but here's the thing.

It had the ability to produce a super rich, warm, clean tone -- like an amplified acoustic -- that I loved. Sure, it could do a lot more, but I most remember this warm, rich tone. I could strum that thing and it sounded better than 99 percent of EAs out there now.

So as I shop for a Strat now (a true Strat, new or used doesn't matter, must just be able to repro this sound), I'm looking for advice on pick-ups or years or specific models/version that are noted for being able to do this).

Yes, I still plan on going into the store and trying everything and letting it find me. What I'm wondering is, amongst all the experts out there, is there something specific I should be looking for or that I should focus on? Should I being researching specific used/older models and years?

I appreciate your helping an old guy find a guitar that will keep me re-occupied after raising my daughter alone from scratch. She's off to college next fall, and Dad needs a hobby.

Or maybe any good Strat can do this? Let me know?

A guy playing my early guitar -- he IDs it wrong -- it's an early 80s model, which is the one I had
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9CaA7FLzGk&feature=relmfu

If you check this out, the blue one (bottom) is exactly what I had, so it must've been a deluxe. Not the 3 single-coil Pups and brass bridge/nut. I'm not hung up on having those things (though I did seem to appreciate the brass, I'm not sure how much of a difference it made), I just want my Strat to be able to produce that sound.
http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapage/index.php?m=01&y=08&entry=entry080123-104757

Thank you so much in advance!

A few other notes that might be helpful:

- I "know in my hands" what a good guitar feels like to me. What I don't know is, do I like a U shaped neck, C shaped, 1.65 nut width, types of frets, etc.? I'll be spending a few weeks at GC trying everything and finding out while writing it down.

- Along with the rich acoustic tone, I could also get a positively bright, ringy sound to it (think The Byrds with a 12 string). Without using any major effects, and without any real skill on my behalf. :)

- Does Fender make any Strats with rock maple/sugar maple bodies? This might be a really stupid question.

- Does Fender make any Strats with five-position switches instead of just three?

- I am very open to having Ron Kirn build this guitar for me, if that's what it takes. Not to say I'm rich, but I want a good one and I've worked hard and saved for it.

Thanks for forgiving my ignorance.

You nailed it go to GC and every other guitar shop in town and play strats and strat style guitars until one speaks to you. The perfect guitar for me is not going to be the same to you.

Every strat I've touched has had a 5 position switch, but i havent really played any signatures or special strats.

I currently have an '86 Japanese Fender Strat that I can not see ever getting rid of. Whoever owned it before me decided to relic it, which really sucks, but its a good player. Tomorrow I will hopefully be a proud owner of a Japanese Jazz Power Special to go along with it.

Thanks, Lunchie. I've heard great things about some of those older MIJ models. Kudos to you for hanging onto it.

One last piece of information: I have a chronic anxiety order (seriously) that hasn't yet found the right meds. As a result, it makes going out (even to a GC) a very big proposition. Think one huge long panic attack. I know most of you won't be able to relate, but I wanted to put it out there.

As I'm responsible for my daughter, I have to tough in out in most cases. But after doing the basic, requiring taxi-ing around, I'm usually way too burnt out to do anything for me.

This isn't a call for sympathy. This is an advance explanation about why I'm trying to do so much research online first (reason: no panic attacks), before I venture out to GC (reason: massive risk).

I know this sounds stupid, but I'm just being honest. I think raising a kid frazzled me beyond repair. But yes, I'm trying to see a doctor about it.

Thanks.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/squier-classic-vibe-stratocaster-50s-electric-guitar

Give one of these a try if they got them. I am not sure how they feel but I used the 50s RI pups in a budget partscaster I assembled. They are a real warm sounding, very mellow pickup. I was real happy with the tone.

Whatever Strat you end up with feel-wise, you can get the tone you want from Aaron at Rumpelstiltskin Pickups. He can wind strat pups to suit your needs.
Listen to some samples here: http://www.rumpelstiltskinpickups.com/Strat_sound_clips.html

It may be difficult, but the only way you're going to find "that sound" is by playing a lot of guitars. Maybe some of the bay area TDPRI guys with strats could visit you and let you play their guitars? Host a jam?

What amp did you have back in the day? That's going to make a difference as well.

Good luck with your Strat-Quest!

Don't you feel comfortable while playing the guitar? Then GC might be the perfect place to go to work on your anxiety. But yes you had better do more than "try to see a doctor" if it is at this high a level and you are trying to raise a family. Sorry to be so blunt, but avoidance only fuels anxiety.

Find one that fells pretty good and has the basic sound you're after. From there, two things to keep in mind: 1) We have a God-given ability to adapt and get used to things (i.e. don't get wrapped around the axle on things like fret size if you otherwise like the instrument), and 2) amps and guitars have knobs, so don't be afraid to use them.

Also, something you didn't mention was your budget. There is a wide spectrum of cost.

I wish you the best in your search.

Scott

I hate to state the obvious, but why not just buy that same guitar on eBay if you can find one there? No traveling and it meets all your requirements.

... or you might try Westone which, like Electra, was made in Japan by Matsumoku. The Westone Strat-style is called the Concord.

http://archive.westoneguitars.net/images/concord2frontfull.jpg

I saw two Electra Phoenix x140s on eBay when I just looked. A regular and a deluxe with active pickups.